AMG’s Upcoming E53 Unveiling the Performance Prowess of Mercedes’ New E-Class Sedan and Estate
Now that Mercedes has introduced the new E-Class Sedan and Estate, it’s only a matter of time before AMG unveils the unstoppable performance chops of the two midsize luxury cars. The “53” flavor will be the first to break cover, but in the meantime, there’s still some testing that needs to be covered before the official premiere. Prototypes of the sedan and wagon have been spotted near the Nürburgring with less disguise while undergoing final evaluations.
While the E53 Sedan is a bit shy since it’s hiding the generously sized air intakes, they’re exposed on its wagon counterpart. The four-door model also has a camouflaged trunk lid spoiler to differentiate the hot version from the mundane E-Class models subtly. Less discreet is the quad exhaust system, which will continue to feature round tips instead of the rectangular shape used for the fully-fledged E63.
In typical Affalterbach fashion, the prototypes are riding closer to the road courtesy of a stiffer suspension setup and have bigger wheels with enlarged brakes. At the front, the dynamic duo hides the “Panamericana” grille we’ve seen on AMG models for several years as a visual nod to the 1952 300SL race car. We wouldn’t hesitate to take the more practical wagon of the two body styles, but the sedan remains the traditional choice.
Spotted Prototypes of E53 Sedan and Estate Near Nürburgring as They Undergo Final Testing
As to what powers the new E53, logic tells us it’s an inline-six considering the recently launched CLE already has a 3.0-liter engine in the Benz-branded 450 4Matic flavor. The two-door CLE Coupe and CLE Convertible are also expected to get the AMG treatment with more than 375 horsepower available in the CLE 450. We’ll remind you that the outgoing E53 Sedan packs 429 hp.
A Glimpse into the Future of AMG’s E53 Lineup, Including Plug-In Hybrid Innovations
A closer look at the sedan reveals a fuel cap on the driver’s side, presumably for the charging port. The next E53 will be a plug-in hybrid, possibly by borrowing the hardware from the S580e with its combined output of 510 hp. As for the range-topping E63, it’s highly unlikely to keep the V8 and will instead become a PHEV with over 700 hp by adapting the AMG GT63 S E Performance setup.
